Mike Nearman is a Republican running for the Oregon House in District 23. He talked with Don Merrill about how reduced timber revenues have affected Polk County and why he opposes the Sherrif's way of handling them, how his timetable for joining the race got speeded up and why his philosophy degree might be just as important to his service as his software degree. *These interviews are part of a project to invite all Oregon 2014 candidates to share their views. A transcript of this interview will be posted shortly. 29:51 minutes (27.32 MB)

Garrett Rosenthal is a Democrat running for House District seat 37. He talked with Don Merrill about how some of the revenue problems in timber counties might be related to taxpayer choice, why him being a policy wonk will serve his constituents and how his environmental experience can help the state navigate issues of endangered species, wetlands and natural resource protection. *These interviews are part of a project to invite all Oregon 2014 candidates to share their views. A transcript of this interview will be posted shortly.
28:43 minutes (26.29 MB)

Thomas Goetz is an author who was motivated to write about the search for a cure for TB. Inspired by his family, he received advanced degrees in public health and was drawn to the relationship between German microbiologist Robert Koch and England's premier mystery writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Mr. Goetz talks with Don Merrill about how the influence each man had on the other was crucial in defeating one of the greatest diseases of mankind.
14:48 minutes (13.55 MB)

A report released on April 10 by Environment Oregon ranked Portland sixteenth among US cities for solar power.
KBOO reporter Ethan Martin spoke with Charlie Fischer of Environment Oregon and Andrea Jacob of Solar Forward for more on the report and Portland's ranking.
6:56 minutes (6.34 MB)

A unique and massive tree known as a Paradox Walnut in the Mt. Tabor area of Portland is threatened by a new housing development.
People in the neighborhood are trying to protect the tree and on April 10 the developer agreed to meet with them.
KBOO reporter Paul Roland spoke with arborist Kevin Hillery about the situation.
6:04 minutes (5.55 MB)

On Tuesday, April 8, the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Analysis Response Center (PARC) released a report on their investigation into the alleged spraying of agricultural chemicals on residential areas in Curry County in October 2013 by a private hired helicopter. Many residents and animals in the area became ill in the following days. KBOO reporter Sam Bouman spoke with John Burns of Cedar Valley, Oregon about the event and the local reaction to the PARC report.
14:02 minutes (12.84 MB)

Jan Haaken talks with Oregon author and historian, Diane Goeres-Gardner about her new book "Inside the Oregon State Hospital: a history of tragedy and triumph". They delve into the ideas and motivations behind the book, some of the cases of hospitalized people she looks at, and changing views toward treating mental illness in Oregon over the generations. They consider women and madness, how different powerful actors resolve the ambivalences around whether the Oregon State Hospital is indeed a hospital or prison, and briefly and finally the eugenics movement in State hospitals.
12:22 minutes (11.32 MB)

Jan Haaken and Mike Snedecker bring another installment of the Left and the Law. Today they focus on legislation in Texas that allows innocent people to get their convictions overturned. In particular, drawing on a case of purported child-abuse, it allows defendants to challenge junk science pushed by experts with new research. For example, much research has not been done on the inner anatomy of young girls' vaginas, and new research suggests that the hitherto unappreciated variability of some of these features (e.g. the hymen) can be mistakenly attributed to abuse.
16:07 minutes (14.76 MB)